Guwahati, July 7: The Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG) has issued a stern contempt notice to senior officials of the Arunachal Pradesh government, accusing them of violating a landmark 1996 Supreme Court judgment on the Chakma and Hajong communities. The warning comes ahead of a controversial meeting scheduled for July 8, where the All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union (AAPSU) has been invited to participate in government deliberations on “illegal immigrants” and land encroachment issues—an inclusion RRAG says is unlawful and unconstitutional.
In a statement issued Monday, Suhas Chakma, Director of RRAG and a member of the National Human Rights Commission’s Core Group, warned that the Chakmas and Hajongs are being “forced to initiate contempt proceedings” due to the state’s disregard for court directives. He argued that involving a non-state actor like AAPSU in official government decision-making violates the rule of law, the Constitution, and the Supreme Court’s specific orders.
“The Supreme Court’s 1996 ruling clearly directed the Arunachal Pradesh government to protect the life and liberty of each Chakma and Hajong against threats from organised groups like AAPSU,” Chakma said. “Yet, AAPSU is now not only part of the discussion but positioned as complainant, judge, and executioner. This is a grave contempt of court.”
The upcoming meeting, convened by the Home Department, lists “Land Records and Encroachment by Chakma Hajong Settlers” as a key agenda item, following a memorandum submitted by AAPSU. Chakma asserts that this is a clear deviation from the apex court’s ruling, which instructed the state not to evict or remove any Chakma or Hajong whose citizenship application was pending.
Chakma further alleged that Arunachal Pradesh has acted in bad faith by failing to process even a single citizenship application since the court’s directive. A related case, W.P.(C)510/2007, remains pending in the Supreme Court, concerning the status of thousands of Chakma and Hajong applicants.
“Despite the legal bar, the state is evicting Chakmas and Hajongs and stripping them of their land and livelihoods,” Chakma said. “This isn’t just contempt of court—it’s contempt of the Constitution.”
He added that allowing a student body like AAPSU, which has previously issued “quit notices” to the Chakma-Hajong community, to help shape official policy reflects poorly on the Indian state. “It’s not just illegal—it’s dangerous.”
